ES2432499T3 - Box with removable and folding outer walls - Google Patents

Abstract

Folding box (1), comprising: - a bottom (2) with a fixed outer wall area (18) extending upwards from the bottom (2) in a vertical direction (8); - an outer wall (6b) comprising an axis (50) disposed in a base area of the outer wall (6b); - a guide opening (54) in the area of the fixed outer wall (18) where the shaft (50) is arranged, the guide opening (54) comprising: - an opening section (54a) that extends basically in the direction vertical (8), through which the axis (50) can be extracted upwards; and - a lateral opening section (54b) extending inward in a lateral direction (12) from the outside of the area of the fixed outer wall (18), in which the axis (50) can be displaced basically in a lateral direction (12) and - a contact surface (76) arranged in the area of the fixed outer wall (18); and characterized by - a cam (52) disposed in the base area of the outer wall (6b) and comprising a cam contour, in which the cam contour and the contact surface (76) are made such that the be carried out the elevation of the outer wall (6b) act together to cause an inward directed force on the outer wall (6b), so that the shaft (50) is moved inwards in the side opening section (54b), and wherein the contact surface (76) is disposed inside another cam opening (56) disposed in the area of the fixed outer wall (18).

Description

Box with removable and folding outer walls

[0001] The present invention relates to easily transportable boxes, whose side walls can be folded for transport and whose side walls are easily removable by using a special articulation arrangement and can simultaneously receive a substantial load in the unfolded state. .

[0002] On the market, a plurality of folding boxes or folding cages are available that consist of a bottom and side walls that fold with respect to the bottom, so that the boxes can be folded after use when folding their walls laterals with the aim that they can be transported back to the location of their renewed use with space saving and in a cost-effective way.

[0003] Since such folding boxes can be used industrially on a large scale and for many different purposes, for example, to transport fruits or vegetables from the harvest fields to consumers, such a folding box must meet many different requirements that partially influence each other. Some requirements here result from the aspect of transport capacity. Thus, it is especially desirable that the box has only a low stack height in the folded state, such that a number of folded boxes can be transported on a pallet that is as high as possible. In addition, the box should be as light as possible, that is, as little material as possible should be used to keep the proportion of payload capacity relative to the weight of the box as low as possible. Apart from this, said boxes are frequently used for the transport of food and it is required that the inner side of the box be as smooth as possible, such that no traces of food are trapped inside the box. Simultaneously, the box must be stable, which makes it difficult to use large flat levels. In addition, the easy cleaning of the boxes must be guaranteed, which, on the one hand, requires flat surfaces and, on the other hand, the possibility of cleaning agents or the water used during cleaning should be given in automatic washing systems. They can drain from the box. This requires drainage holes or perforations that, once again, contradict the high stability required. With regard to cleaning, it is especially desirable that at least some of the outer walls are held by themselves in the unfolded state, that is, they remain in the unfolded state, so that it is necessary for a rigorous and successful cleaning that The entire interior volume of the box has easy access.

[0004] The especially important requirements are also aimed at the stability of the boxes themselves, for example, when fruit and vegetables are transported, they are loaded directly in the field by peasants and the vegetables remain inside the same box throughout the transport until The final consumer, that is, the box must survive the various loading and unloading processes during transport, if possible without damage. In addition, the boxes are also used several times according to their purpose, which even increases the requirements regarding their firmness. On the one hand, it is of course very desirable that when the lateral conditions of a given weight that are as low as possible are maintained, the walls and bottom of the folding boxes are as robust as possible. In addition, due to the plurality of handling processes and actions required during the transport of said boxes, it should be ensured that normal operation is as easy as possible. It must be guaranteed simultaneously that in case of an operation or misuse, the mechanical components used are not destroyed. In particular, the folding boxes comprise a closing mechanism by means of which the raised walls are hooked together, so that the deployed box receives the required stability. This closing mechanism should be operable as easily as possible and error free without much effort. However, in addition, the possibility of an erroneous operation should be considered, that is, a force acting on the closing mechanism without it being operated. In this case, the closing mechanism should in no way be destroyed.

[0005] An additional requirement of said folding boxes should be that the articulation mechanism that produces a folding connection between the entrance and the outer walls of the folding box can absorb great forces. The same presents, in the unfolded state, the only non-positive connection between the bottom on which the full load is usually arranged and the outer walls in which the grip holes are generally located. Even if a firm implementation of a box is used, a destruction of individual components of the box, that is, in particular of the bottom or one of the side walls, could not always be excluded under daily conditions. Thus, it is desirable that the side walls can be easily separated from the bottom without the ability to withstand a high load that is exposed to the ease of disassembling the non-positive connection.

[0006] WO 00/68101 A2 describes a collapsible plastic container according to the preamble of claim 1, whose four identical side walls are housed in its bottom so that they can be separated. There are pivots arranged at the lower ends of the side walls and are housed in the ground. The pivots are secured by screws.

[0007] The aim of the invention is to create a folding box whose outer walls can be disassembled in a simple way, without producing a non-positive connection between the bottom and the outer wall.

[0008] This objective is achieved by means of a folding box according to claim 1.

[0009] With some preferred embodiments of the present invention, easy disassembly of an outer wall from the bottom of a folding box is achieved using a special articulation arrangement that includes both an axis arranged at the bottom of the outer wall and also a cam arranged there so that only when the outer wall is deployed does a non-positive connection occur between the bottom and the outer wall. In order to allow this, in some preferred embodiments at the bottom or in an area of the outer wall that is fixed and extends from the bottom in an upward vertical direction (ie, in the direction of the deployed side wall), where the area of the outer wall can also be manufactured integrally within the bottom, a recess is located within which the axis is located. In addition, at the bottom, a contact surface corresponding to a surface disposed with respect to the bottom is arranged in a known relative orientation. The cam, as will be explained in greater detail with respect to some of the figures below, is implemented or comprises said three-dimensional contour where the cam, which is rigidly connected to the outer wall when the cam wall is deployed, comes into contact. with the contact surface, that is, it comes into contact with it and is supported by it. This support causes a translational movement of the shaft that is only rigidly connected to the outer wall. The guide opening is implemented geometrically so that it comprises a part of the opening that passes basically in a vertical direction (i.e. basically perpendicular to the bottom surface) and a part of the side opening virtually perpendicular to the same that passes in the lateral direction from outside to inside. Both the opening part and also the side opening part comprise a cross section that is large enough to move the axis in the two sections. In the folded state of the outer wall, the axis is first of all arranged at the bottom of the part of the opening corresponding to the guide hole and can be removed through the part of the opening in the upward vertical direction. Thus, the axis is not an obstacle to disassemble the outer wall in the folded state.

[0010] Producing a non-positive connection is only executed when the outer wall is deployed. During deployment, the contour of the cam is in contact with the contact surface that guides or supports the cam. Due to the rigid connection of the cam and the shaft through the outer wall and when guiding the cam on the contact surface, the shaft is moved in the area of the lateral opening in the guide opening, where the opening area it is closed upwards at least in one place, that is, it is limited in the upward direction, for example, through the material of the outer wall or the area of the fixed outer wall. If the axis is thus located in the part of the lateral opening, it cannot be removed from the upper part and results in a configuration that produces a connection between the outer wall and the bottom in the vertical direction, so that it can absorb a force or support a weight load. In other words, guided by the cam that is supported on the contact surface, by means of the axis a translation or turning movement is executed that moves the axis from an initial position in the side opening part towards a final position in the part from the side opening, so that when the wall is deployed, a stable connection between the outer wall and the bottom is obtained, while in the folded state the shaft can be removed from the top of the guide opening and, thereby , the wall can be disassembled.

[0011] With some preferred embodiments, at the bottom or in the area of the fixed outer wall extending upwards from the bottom, an additional recess is located within which the cam is located. The support surface is arranged in this cam opening. In some preferred embodiments, the support surface is formed by the outer side wall or boundary surface of the cam opening.

[0012] In some additional preferred embodiments of the invention, the load capacity of the resulting connection is further increased by the fact that the cam opening also comprises an opening part that passes in the vertical direction and a side opening part that it passes in the lateral direction, where the cam has an outer contour or is implemented geometrically so that in the deployed state a cam element or a recess in the cam engages the side opening part of the cam opening during the deployment. By this, the cam is also prevented from sliding upwardly out of the cam opening with a strain of stress, because of the massive bottom material located on the side opening portion of the cam opening. Thus, the cam in the cam opening in the unfolded state can also additionally receive weight or support an additional load that increases the stability or strength of the folding box in this preferred embodiment. Here, in some additional preferred embodiments of the present invention, the cam opening comprises a cross-section in the vertical direction where the cam in the folded state of the side wall can be removed upwardly from the cam opening, so that in addition In the preferred embodiment in which the cam can withstand additional load, the outer wall can be disassembled in the folded state without any tools. In some preferred embodiments, the geometry is selected so that both the cam opening and the guide opening extend in the lateral direction outward to a common outer wall, so that it in other words comprises identical dimensions in the direction side. In the direction perpendicular to the vertical and lateral direction, the cam opening or the guide opening in some preferred embodiments comprises dimensions that are slightly larger than the horizontal axis extension

or the horizontal extension of the cam in order to allow a free clearance connection in this dimension between the outer wall and the bottom or the area of the fixed outer wall of the bottom. In other words, the horizontal extension of the guide opening and the cam opening basically corresponds to the horizontal dimensions of the shaft or cam, in

where the horizontal extension of the openings is slightly greater, for example 0.5 mm or 1 mm.

[0013] By using the aforementioned articulation arrangement or by using a folding box according to one of the preferred embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a folding box whose outer walls can be completely folded down and in the folded state. can be easily removed (for example, exchanged for a spare part or for cleaning) from the folding box, where the connection between the outer wall and the bottom or the area of the fixed outer wall of the bottom is still capable of absorbing a great strength as is conventionally only the case with conventional joints that cannot be disassembled.

[0014] According to some additional preferred embodiments of the invention, a collapsible box is provided comprising exterior walls that remain in the unfolded state after unfolding it, where automatic folding of the exterior wall is also avoided. Some preferred embodiments of the invention are based on the articulation arrangement described above comprising an axis in a guide opening, without the guide opening necessarily having to comprise an opening area suitable for removal in the vertical direction. It is only necessary for the guide opening to comprise the side opening portion that extends in the lateral direction from the outside of the fixed outer wall area inward, where the axis can be changed within the opening part. Here, the additional use of a cam that is arranged in the base part of the outer wall is required, wherein the cam comprises a cam contour that is implemented such that when raised, by a cam contour contact with the contact surface, when it already exceeds a limit angle, the axis is moved in the direction of the side opening part inwards before the side wall is completely lifted.

[0015] In some preferred embodiments, the contour of the cam is implemented such that the limit angle is exceeded, when the outer wall is lifted, before the lower part of the outer wall, when raised, comes into contact with the area of the inner edge of the area of the fixed outer wall of the bottom that extends upwards. Due to the fact that the axis, in the first contact of the bottom of the outer wall with the area of the inner edge, is already located in the internal position in the side opening part, the axis can absorb a force basically directed upwards.

[0016] Since the shaft can absorb this force, when the outer wall is also lifted, through the area of the inner edge, by the effect of the shaft rigidly connected to the outer wall (for example, by means of a spacer fixed to the base of the inner wall), the lower part of the outer wall is pressed with a first pressing force against the area of the inner edge corresponding to the area of the fixed outer wall. It is greater than the second contact pressing force with whose use the lower part of the outer wall in the raised vertical position, that is, after exceeding the area of the inner edge, is pressed against the upper side of the area of the fixed outer wall by the axis.

[0017] In other words, moving the shaft inward in the part of the lateral opening (towards the internal end position) before the outer wall comes into contact with the area of the inner edge will cause a force threshold to be exceeded when raise the outer wall. This threshold of force acting on the lower part of the outer wall after exceeding the limit angle by means of the axis effect, is the maximum force acting during the elevation between the lower part of the outer wall and the area of the outer wall fixed bottom. Thus, after exceeding this force, that is, after completely lifting the outer wall, said outer wall is held in the straight position as long as the force acting in the vertical position between the bottom of the wall outside and the area of the fixed outer wall is smaller and the outer wall thus cannot exceed the area of the inner edge by simply bending downwards by the force of the weight of the outer wall without an external force.

[0018] The preferred embodiments described above of the invention thus allow to provide a folding box in which the outer walls, after being lifted, cannot automatically fold back in the folded state, even if the outer walls of the folding box are not adjusted together in the vertical state.

[0019] This can be a substantial advantage in the completely automatic cleaning of the folding boxes, which must be repeated manually when, for example, due to an erroneous operation of the engagement, the outer walls are able to automatically fold inwards. once again. In addition, when the exterior walls are conventionally deployed, an autonomous exterior wall can be a great advantage in itself, first of all, it can be lifted so that the remaining walls can be raised later and secured with the walls already deployed without having to be secured manually, because the wall already deployed remains raised. With respect to the plurality of handling processes that occur in a life cycle of such a collapsible box, this is a substantial advantage with respect to efficiency and costs.

[0020] In particular, also the functionality that the outer wall in the unfolded state is automatically supported can be achieved without clamps on moving parts that are conventional in the prior art such as, for example, on the axes of the joints that must be provided. through which otherwise it

would achieve a limitation in the movement of a joint. Said clamps, in particular when using plastic parts, are subject to wear and tear, so that the inhibition of movement and thus the functionality of the side wall is automatically reduced over time. However, in the inventive preferred embodiments the mechanism is basically free of wear as long as the movement of the shaft itself is completely free of wear within the side opening part. The force is generated without friction by an elastic rail of the participating components; so that with a correct sizing of the component that absorbs the force, for example, the bridge or separator that connects the shaft to the outer wall, a continuous operation free of wear and tear is guaranteed.

[0021] According to some additional preferred embodiments of the present invention, a folding box is provided comprising two opposite pairs respectively of longitudinal and transverse lateral outer walls arranged foldably with respect to the bottom of the box and allowing folding the outer walls towards inside. In the unfolded state, the four outer walls are mechanically connected to each other or secured in order to obtain a collapsible box comprising great stability.

[0022] To allow engagement, each of the longitudinal lateral outer walls comprises a protuberance at each end extending in the direction of the transverse lateral outer walls in the deployed state, where the protuberance restricts the folding capacity of the outer side walls transverse outward, that is, it has the effect of a stop. Through the term longitudinal side, it should not give the impression that the really longer outer wall should comprise this protuberance in any preferred embodiment. In some alternative preferred embodiments, the shorter outer walls refer to the transverse side comprising this protuberance, so that the terms longitudinal side and transverse side can be exchanged randomly. Any of the transverse lateral outer walls comprise spring pre-tensioned engagement mechanisms arranged on the outer side of the transverse lateral outer wall, which comprise, in the deployed state, a pressure-adjusted element that moves in a vertical direction that can be secured. with the protrusion of the longitudinal lateral outer wall.

[0023] The pressure-adjusted element can fit directly into the protuberance or an object connected to the protuberance or can engage with it. By means of the vertical movement of the pressure-adjusted element it is achieved that said pressure-adjusted element can be moved virtually without applying force, that is, when the pressure-adjusted element is opened or hooked only the spring force of the spring corresponding to the mechanism of Prestressed spring hitch has to be overcome in order to be able to release the hitch in a simple way in normal operation. By this, the transverse lateral outer wall is separated from the longitudinal lateral outer wall, so that it can be folded. Adjusting and de-adjusting under pressure in a vertical direction has the advantage over conventional solutions in that the adjustment or de-adjustment under pressure is carried out in a direction of lateral folding or in a horizontal direction and the closure or opening is carried out in a direction in which the connection between the side walls does not have to absorb force, so that a high force does not have to be used to close or open the pressure-adjusted element. With the closing methods in which the closing or opening is carried out in a direction in which the outer wall is moved by opening or closing, it is definitely necessary in normal closing or opening that exceeds the clamping force of the closure with the goal of achieving an opening. This leads to losses with respect to the speed and reliability of handling, which can be avoided by means of vertical closing mechanisms.

[0024] According to the preferred embodiments of the closing mechanisms described below, the protuberance and / or the pressure-adjusted element in the unfolded state further comprises, with respect to the vertical direction, contact surfaces that are inclined such that The closing mechanism opens against its spring preload when it exceeds a predetermined inward directed force acting on the transverse lateral outer wall. The flanks of the closing tabs or the protuberances where the pressure-adjusted element and the closing tab of the protuberance or the protuberance themselves are inclined with respect to each other, so that they depend on the inclination, when the force acts from outside the folding box on the transverse lateral outer wall, also a force component always acts in the vertical direction, that is, against the spring preload on the pressure adjusted element. Thus, in a manner of speaking, an emergency release can be achieved when, for example, by a wrong operation a high force acts on the transverse lateral outer wall. Thus, the closing mechanism is not destroyed, which would lead to a replacement of the case or a side wall.

[0025] By tilting the pressure-adjusted element with respect to the protuberance or a closing hook fixed to the protuberance, the predetermined force where an emergency release occurs or where the closing mechanism opens against the spring preload can be randomly placed over a wide range. Here, in contrast to conventional methods, the size of the predetermined force, in which the closure is automatically opened, has no influence on the force to be exerted, which is necessary when the closing mechanism is in normal operation. , that is, it occurs by manually operating the pressure-adjusted element in the vertical direction. The preferred embodiments of the present invention thus allow both a comfortable and regular operation as well as additional support against an erroneous operation without the parameters of one of the two methods of operation (the regular and the erroneous operation) that depend on each other. From

Thus, the preferred embodiments of the inventive folding boxes can even be manufactured so firmly that the hook in continuous operation cannot only be opened by a conventional manual operation of the pressure-adjusted elements, but also by striking or move the transverse lateral outer wall without damaging the case or a pressure adjustment mechanism occurs.

[0026] According to some preferred embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the outer walls comprises a particularly stable structure that has advantageous characteristics that are produced by the fact that the areas of the spherical wall stable in itself convex with respect to a outer side of the box are connected by means of an arrangement of bridges and tabs. By this, a stable and extremely thin outer wall is provided which is stable and also lightweight. According to some preferred embodiments, between two areas of the spherical wall corresponding to the convex outer wall with respect to the outer side, a bridge is placed on the outside of the outer wall that extends through a height of the outer wall . In addition, one or a plurality of flanges pass between the spherical wall areas, where the flanges extend from the bridge to each of the spherical surface areas on both sides of the bridge. These preferred embodiments of the inventive outer walls thereby include spherical surfaces disposed adjacent to each other and connected to each other by means of an arrangement of flanges and bridges between adjacent spherical surfaces respectively, in order to increase the stiffness of coupling of the outer wall

[0027] Spherical surfaces have the advantage that they are intrinsically resistant to torsion up to a certain size that is caused by the curvature of the surface at their edge areas. In this regard, spherical surfaces are considered surfaces that rise from a flat base surface towards a predetermined direction, where the surface does not protrude in a stepped form from the base surface with respect to the contour, but the contour moves away from the base surface in an "s" shape with predetermined radii. After elevation, a spherical surface area may also comprise a partial surface that is completely flat and passes parallel to the base surface at a distance that depends on the "s" shaped contour at the edge of the spherical surface. If the flat surface within the spherical surface becomes too large, this surface again becomes unstable, such that there are restrictions with respect to the size of an intrinsically stable spherical surface. The use of an individual spherical surface as a side wall, with large side walls, would not have a stability to withstand a great effect. However, spherical surfaces have the advantage that they are flat on both sides, do not include edges or fissures so that they are very suitable for the transport of food, since there is no danger of food being trapped in the edges or something similar.

[0028] With some preferred embodiments of the present invention, various convex surface areas on a wall are used, which are interconnected by an arrangement of flanges and bridges perpendicular to the flanges extending through the height of the outer wall. for connecting stable convex surface areas per se without a high material expense in a torsionally resistant manner; in such a way that a very firm structure is finally created with a low wall resistance. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the bridges and tabs are arranged exclusively on the outside of the outer wall, so that the reinforcing effects are achieved without the hygiene suffering due to the food being trapped in the sharp edges of the eyelashes and bridges inside the box. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, any of the articulation arrangements that connect the outer wall to the bottom of the folding box are basically arranged in areas where the bridges are located between the spherical surfaces. As the bridges that extend through the height of the outer wall are those structures that can withstand the greatest stress effort, through the arrangement produced of the articulation elements, an external structure or wall is generated that comprises the stability requirements as high as possible with respect to the transmission of power or transmission of force towards the bottom and only simultaneously requires a thin outer wall that saves material that is smooth on the inner side and is easy to clean.

[0029] Next, some preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] It shows:

Figure 1 shows an overview of a preferred embodiment corresponding to a folding box;

Figure 2 corresponds to a top view on the preferred embodiment of the box of Figure 1;

Figure 3 corresponds to a side view of the folding box of Figure 1;

Figure 4 corresponds to an overview of a further preferred embodiment of a folding box;

Figure 5 corresponds to a detailed view of a cam and an axis of an articulation arrangement used in some preferred embodiments of the invention;

Figure 6 corresponds to an additional detailed view of the cam and the axis of Figure 5 from a different perspective;

Figure 7A corresponds to a detailed view of a guide opening and a cam opening for receiving the shaft and then the cam of Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 7B corresponds to a detailed view of Figure 7A from a different perspective;

Figure 8 corresponds to a top view on a preferred embodiment of an articulation arrangement;

Figure 9A corresponds to a sectional view through the shaft in a folded state of the folding box;

Figure 9B corresponds to a sectional view through the cam in the folded state;

Figure 10A corresponds to a sectional view through the axis in a semi-open state;

Figure 10B corresponds to a sectional view through the cam in the semi-open state;

Figure 11A corresponds to a sectional view through the axis in the open state;

Figure 11B corresponds to a sectional view through the cam in the open state;

Figure 12 corresponds to a side view of a transverse side wall of a preferred embodiment corresponding to a folding box having a closing mechanism with a pressure adjusted element;

Figure 13A corresponds to a preferred embodiment of a pressure adjusted element; Y

Figure 13B corresponds to a further preferred embodiment of a pressure adjusted element.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a semi-perspective view of a preferred embodiment corresponding to a folding box 1. Here, a folding box 1 within the scope of this description corresponds to a box or a cage that opens in one direction ( in the vertical direction towards the top) and comprising a bottom and four extensions or side walls that are connected to the bottom so that they can be moved or deployed or folded with respect to the bottom. In the folded state, that is, when the four walls are folded over the bottom, the box only has a low construction height and easy transport.

[0032] The folding box of Figure 1 comprises a bottom 2, pairs of opposite transverse lateral outer walls 4a and 4b and pairs of opposing longitudinal lateral lateral walls 6a and 6b. It should be noted here that, in order to identify the outer walls in the following description, the outer walls will be designated as longitudinal side outer walls that have a greater extent than the transverse side outer walls. This should not be considered as restrictive from the moment that the features described in conjunction with the longitudinal side outer walls are implemented in all preferred embodiments of the invention only on the longer side walls. Rather, the term longitudinal lateral and transverse lateral only serves to identify the exterior walls described respectively. In other words, the terms longitudinal side and transverse side can also be interchanged, so that the features described for the longitudinal side outer walls can also be implemented on the transverse sides and, of course, also on both side walls (in shape simultaneous). In general, it is applied that any feature described below can be randomly combined with each other, so that some preferred embodiments of the inventive folding boxes only comprise one of the features, while other preferred embodiments can comprise all the features.

[0033] As mentioned above, Figure 1 shows a folding box in the unfolded state while the box should be considered as if it were in the folded state when all the side walls are folded. To simplify the description of the individual characteristics, certain directions or geometric relationships are defined for the following description below. The vertical direction 8 passes basically perpendicular to the surface of the bottom 2, where the designations of relative position "superior" and "of the bottom" in this link must be considered such that "superior" designates a position more separated from the bottom The vertical direction than the bottom. The relative position indication “internal” or “inside” indicates a position that is closer to the volume enclosed by the box than a position that is indicated by the term “outside” or “outside”. Outside or outside, for example, with respect to the longitudinal lateral outer wall 6b, it means that those components that are visible directly in the semi-perspective view of Figure 1 are described. The height of the side walls corresponds to the extension in the deployed state illustrated in Figure 1 in the vertical direction 8, while the thickness or width corresponds to the maximum extent between the inner side and the outer side of the outer walls.

[0034] Directional, lateral and horizontal information, respectively, refers to the exterior wall currently considered. The horizontal direction corresponds to the direction through the greater longitudinal extension of the side wall considered, such that the horizontal direction with respect to the outer wall 6b, for example, results as indicated by arrow 11. The lateral direction it refers to the direction between the outer side and the inner side or the inner side of the walls in the unfolded state, so that, for example, for the outer wall 6b, the lateral direction indicated by the reference number 12 results. The corresponding application of this definition for the transverse lateral outer wall 4b leads to a horizontal direction 14 and a lateral direction 15. In the unfolded state of the box, with respect to each outer wall, the lateral, vertical and horizontal direction defines a system of basic rectangular coordinates. Apart from this, when doubts of interpretation arise with respect to the information corresponding to the position or orientation, the information should always be considered relative to the box in the deployed state illustrated in Figure 1.

[0035] As can be seen with respect to Figure 1, some preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a bottom 2, which consist of a flat level main part on one side and comprise a fixed outer wall area 18 which is extends from the bottom in an upward vertical direction on two opposite outer sides. For a better illustration, the same is illustrated in a sharpened form in Figure 1 and, for example, can serve to receive or provide articulation elements and ensure that a pair of side walls in the folded state comes to rest on the other pair of side walls. In the discussion of the following elements, the area of the fixed outer wall that extends upward in the vertical direction is considered to belong to the bottom, so that some of the characteristics discussed can also be carried out in the area of the level background.

[0036] Figure 2 shows, for a renewed illustration, a top view on the folding box illustrated in Figure 1 in which the bottom 2, the longitudinal lateral outer walls 6a and 6b, in addition to the transverse lateral outer walls 4a and 4b are very visible. In addition, it can at least be deduced in Figure 2 that the longitudinal and transverse lateral outer walls, in the deployed state, are hooked together on adjacent edges respectively, so that the deployed box achieves great stability. As indicated and discussed here only in greater detail in some of the following paragraphs, closing or engaging the longitudinal side exterior walls comprises a protrusion extending in the direction of the transverse lateral exterior wall 4a that limits the folding capacity of the wall transverse lateral exterior 4a to the exterior, that is, in an unfolded direction, and thus, as it were, acts as a detention. This mechanism is discussed below with reference to corner 20 of the longitudinal lateral outer wall 6a. When closed, a pressure-adjusted element disposed in the transverse lateral outer wall 4a engages the protuberance 22 and engages therewith to form a mechanically resistant connection, in order to achieve the stability of the box.

[0037] Figure 3 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of a folding box where some advantageous features of the outer wall 6b of this preferred embodiment are clearly visible. The implementation illustrated in Figure 3 of the outer wall 6b is distinguished in itself by the fact that spherical surface areas that are convex with respect to the outer side of the folding box are combined with flange and bridge reinforcement elements, so such that an outer wall is originated that is as a very stable consequence, however, that is simultaneously smooth basically on its inner side and comprises only a small thickness, which is a small extension in the lateral direction. The thickness in the lateral direction is a criterion not only with respect to the material to be used and the weight, but also in particular for the stacking height to be achieved, that is, the height of a box in the folded state , which basically results from the thickness of the bottom, the transverse lateral exterior walls and the longitudinal lateral lateral walls. The thinner a wall with the given flexibility, the better.

[0038] This is achieved in the preferred embodiments described herein by the outer wall consisting of spherical wall areas 20a, 20b and 20c convex with respect to the outer side, where the areas are connected to each other by means of a flange arrangement. and bridges. Up to a certain size, spherical wall areas are intrinsically stable due to their conformation, as previously indicated. As illustrated in Figure 3, between the area of the spherical wall 20a and the area of the spherical wall 20b, a bridge 22 provided on the outer side of the outer wall is provided which extends through the height 24 of the outer wall, that is, it passes in the vertical direction 8. This bridge leads to high resistance in the vertical direction. From the bridge 22, a plurality of horizontally passing tabs 26a-26c extend to the spherical surface areas 20a and 20b adjacent to the bridge 22. By combining the intrinsically rigid spherical surface areas with the flange and bridge arrangements which connect the spherical surface areas comprising at least one bridge and a flange that extend from the bridge to the adjacent spherical surfaces, make it possible to provide a very thin and stable outer wall using little material. This has the advantage that here the inner side basically has smooth surfaces since the spherical surfaces are bent outwards and also the flanges are fixed to the outside, that is, the available construction height is used with maximum efficiency, in order to achieve a general construction as rigid as possible.

[0039] The use of bridge and flange arrangements connecting the spherical surface elements

It also allows the elements of the spherical surface to be perforated or provided with a plurality of perforations in order to save material and be able to clean the wall rigorously. Perforation that weakens the structure of spherical surface areas can be accepted here by using bridges and tabs between spherical surface areas, and overall stability can still be maintained. In Figure 3, some additional optional bridges that extend through the spherical area and serve to further increase overall stability are illustrated. These bridges are optional, however, as in some preferred embodiments, the combination of spherical surface areas and bridges can guarantee the required stability.

[0040] In other words, a further preferred embodiment of the invention only comprises bridges 22 and 30 between spherical surface areas 20a, 20b, 20c. For a greater increase in the stability of the entire construction, the articulation arrangements with whose use the outer wall is connected folded to the bottom 2 or to the area of the fixed outer wall 18 are only arranged in those areas at the base of the outer wall 6b (at the end of the outer wall 6b facing the bottom 2) where the bridges extend to the base area of the outer wall. Any of the articulation arrangements or articulation mechanisms 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d that are only briefly indicated herein, are located, in the preferred embodiment indicated in Figure 3 and Figure 1, in the area of the passing bridges in the vertical direction 8. This leads to increased stability of the entire construction, since the joints must absorb the force acting in the vertical direction 8 when the box is loaded, so that it is a great advantage when the joints are located in the position of the bridges that also serve to absorb the load in the vertical direction.

[0041] A bridge that is capable of doing this is usually a material that protrudes from the surface of the outer wall in the lateral direction that extends beyond the heights of the outer wall. In an equivalent application of this definition, the eyelashes also extend in the lateral direction from the surface of the outer wall, where the eyelashes basically pass through the horizontal orientation. With some other preferred embodiments, the tabs do not pass horizontally but in a different orientation, where it must be ensured that at least one flange extends from the bridges, also in a different orientation, to the spherical surface areas adjacent to the bridges .

[0042] Figure 4 shows a view of an additional preferred embodiment corresponding to a folding box that is different from the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 because of a different dimensioning. In particular, the folding box illustrated in Figure 4 comprises a lower height, that is, a more restricted extension of the vertical direction 8. As the remaining characteristics of the folding boxes in Figure 1 and 4 are the same, with respect to the description of the characteristics, reference is made to what was said with respect to Figure 1, where also in regard to the more restricted height of the box illustrated in Figure 4, the concept can still be carried out of adjacent spherical surface areas that are connected by means of a bridge and at least one flange extending from the bridge to each of the adjacent spherical surface areas, as can be deduced from Figure 4. Said Figure 4 illustrates in this way the great flexibility of the functional cooperation corresponding to the spherical wall areas, in addition to the construction of the bridge and the flange that connect them, which can be adapted easily Easily to different geometric contour conditions. In particular, it is also allowed in Figure 4 (as in Figure 1) to fix a grip opening 46 in the central area of the folding box with which conventionally used in normal use of the box, the full load is lifted. Here, the use of spherical surface areas makes it possible to construct a spherical surface area excluded by the grip area and located below the grip area; so that in addition to the area of the grip, a spherical surface area with increased stability does not have to be carried out without it. As illustrated in Figure 4, the grip is connected to the spherical surface area internally by means of bridges that pass vertically, which leads to increased stability in the direction of the force. In addition, an outer contour of the grip is directly connected to the bridges 22 and 30 arranged between the spherical surface areas by means of additional tabs that lead to the fact that the openings of the grip area 46, which really weaken the stability of the construction, they do not affect total stability since the force acting on the grip could be transmitted directly to adjacent spherical surface areas.

[0043] Apart from the above, in Figure 4, similar or functionally identical features or functions are provided with the same reference numbers that were already used in Figure 1. This also applies to the following drawings, in which similar or functional features or functions similarly provided are provided with identical reference numbers.

[0044] Figures 5 and 6 show enlarged parts of an axis 50 disposed in the base area of the outer wall 6b and a cam 52 arranged in the base area of the articulation arrangement 40c of the folding box 1 from different perspectives ; wherein Figure 5 corresponds to an interior view, that is, in the lateral direction from the inside out; and Figure 6 corresponds to a view belonging to it from outside to inside. The axis 50 in this preferred embodiment is basically cylindrical and extends in the horizontal direction. The cross section of the axis can have any other shape that is not circular, such as oval, square, cuboid or triangular. The cam is basically cuboid, where the contour of said cam in some places deviates from the cubic shape to achieve the different functionalities of the cam.

[0045] Figures 7A and 7B correspond to Figures 5 and 6, where they also show a

guide opening 54 and a cam opening 56 from different perspectives that are located within the area of the fixed outer wall 18 of the bottom 2 and where the axis 50 and the cam 52 are arranged. Figure 7 shows a view from the inside out, while Figure 7B shows a view from the outside in. While Figures 5 through 7B show the characteristics of the articulation arrangement in an unarmed state, Figures 8 through 11B show the articulation arrangement in the assembled state, where the cam 52 is located within the cam opening 54 and the shaft 50 inside the guide opening 54; so that with respect to Figures 8 through 11B, the interaction of the different components of the articulation arrangement can be concentrated. Here, Figure 8 shows a top view on the articulation arrangement in the folded state of the outer wall 6b, while Figures 9A through 11B show a sectional view through the articulation arrangement illustrated during the various deployment phases of the outer wall 6b. Figures 9A, 10A and 11A each show a section in sectional line 60 through axis 50. Figures 9B, 10B and 11B show a section through cam 52 along sectional line 62 of Figure 8. The operation of the articulation arrangement is described below with reference to Figures 5 through 11B.

[0046] As can be deduced from Figure 8, in the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein, the axis 50 is arranged in the guide opening 54 and the cam 52 is arranged in the cam opening 56. The guide opening 54 is divided into two functionally distinct areas, that is, in an opening section 54a that basically extends in the vertical direction 8 and a side opening section 54b that basically extends in a lateral direction 12 from the outer side of the area of the fixed outer wall 18 or the guide opening 54 inwards. In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the side opening section 54b is located at the bottom of the guide opening 54, although this should not be considered as a restriction. Rather, in the further preferred embodiments of the invention, the side opening section may also be arranged higher in the vertical direction.

[0047] Also, the cam opening 56 comprises an opening section 56a which extends basically in the vertical direction. The cam opening 56 also comprises a side opening section 56b extending in the lateral direction from the outside or from the outer side restriction or edge of the cam opening 56 inward. The different opening sections can be better identified in the sectional view of Figure 9A and 9B, where they are also provided with corresponding reference numbers. In order not to affect the clarity of illustration with respect to operation, in the remaining figures the opening sections are not provided with the respective reference numbers. The opening section 54a of the guide opening 54 passing through the vertical direction comprises a cross section that is large enough to be able to remove the axis 50 in the deployed state of the side wall 6b in a vertical direction upwards from the guide opening 54. As illustrated in the figures, the shaft 50 is connected to the base 66 by means of a spacer 64, that is, it is rigidly connected to the lower end of the outer wall 6B in the vertical direction

8. When the wall illustrated in Figures 9A through 11B is deployed in the direction of an increasing opening angle 68 (a), the axis 50 is rotated with respect to the guide opening 54. Similarly, the cam 52 fixed permanently to the base 66 of the outer wall 6b is rotated with respect to the cam opening 56. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described with reference to Figures 7A through 11B, also the opening area 56a of the opening of cam 56 which basically passes in the vertical direction comprises a cross section that is large enough so that the cam 52 in the folded state can be guided vertically upwards from the cam opening 56. As can be deduced from the top view in half corresponding to the outer wall 6b in Figure 8, the side wall 6b is connected to the area of the fixed outer wall 18 by four axes and two cams of the type described above.

[0048] In the folded state, the outer wall 6b can be easily disassembled without any tool that facilitates the exchange of a possibly damaged outer wall. To fold the outer wall, both the guide opening 54 and the cam opening each comprise a break of the inner side 70 or 72 in the inner or inner contour wall of the openings 54 and 56, where it can be moved the shaft separator 64 or the part of the cam 52 used to mount a cam 52 to the base 66 of the side wall 6b.

[0049] In contrast to the conventional articulation mechanism, the connection between the side wall and the area of the fixed outer wall in the folded state may be unlocked without any tools, that is, a force acting in the folded state in the vertical direction on the outer wall 6b is not absorbed by the articulation arrangement or transferred to the bottom 2, such as to be able to load the box in the unfolded state.

[0050] Traction in the preferred embodiment of the invention only occurs when the outer wall 6b is lifted, in which case the cam 52 and the shaft 50 cooperate as follows. In the folded state illustrated in Figure 9A and 9B, the shaft 50 is located within the vertically passing opening section 54a of the guide opening 54; and cam 52 is also located within the vertically passing opening section 56a of cam opening 56. In the preferred embodiment illustrated here, both shaft 50 and cam 52 are in contact with the outer side wall of the respective guide opening and no force acts on the axis 50 or the cam 52. The contour of the cam 52 in the preferred embodiment illustrated herein is not basically radial as the contour of the shaft, but is L-shaped with an edge 74 that is in contact with the outer side of the cam opening 56. The outer wall or outer side 76 of the cam opening 56, when the outer wall 6b is raised acts as a contact surface

in the area of the fixed outer wall 18 where the cam 52 is supported, when it lifts the outer wall 6b, so to speak. By means of the L-shaped contour of the cam with the edge 74, directly after starting the lift, an inwardly directed force acts on the side wall 6b which causes the axis 50 in the side opening section 54b to move inwards ; such that when a predetermined limit angle is already exceeded, it is located within the lateral opening section 54b (in an inner lateral end position in the lateral opening section 54b), as illustrated in Figure 10A. The lateral opening section 54b, as can be deduced for example from Figure 7, is vertically linked upwards by the material of the fixed outer wall area 18. This limitation is formed in Figure 7 by the two heels 78a and 78b, which extend over the side opening section 54a towards the gate opening 54 and avoid the possibility of moving the shaft out of the guide opening 54. Because of the cam 52 and the contact surface 76 of the cam, when the axis 50 is lifted, it moves laterally inwardly within the lateral opening section 54b to a position where the axis 50 cannot be removed from the guide opening towards the top; such that the shaft can transmit a force towards the bottom 2 that acts in an upward vertical direction on the outer wall 6b.

[0051] In general terms, the cam 52 comprises a cam contour that is implemented such that said cam contour, when lifting the outer wall, comes into contact with a contact surface 56, such that the axis 50 move inward in the side opening section 54b. The shape corresponding to the contact surface is not important here, the flat contact surface illustrated in the figures will only be considered as an example for any contact surface geometry, which leads to a force being displayed on the cam. For example, the contact surface may also be inclined with respect to the vertical direction 8, which, in combination with a basically circular cam contour with respect to the contact surface 56, also leads to the fact that during alignment the axis It moves in. This preferred embodiment also clarifies that the geometry of the cam can be virtually random, provided that the cam contour is implemented such that the cam contour comes into contact with the contact surface, so that the axis 50 moves towards inside.

[0052] In the fully deployed state illustrated in Figure 11A, the shaft 50 is located in the side opening section 54b of the guide opening 54, such that now the outer wall 6b and the bottom are connected to each other in a non positive way. The preferred embodiment illustrated herein further comprises two protrusions 80a and 80b, which extend in a lateral direction to the outer lateral edge of the guide opening 54 in the deployed state of the outer wall 6b. These optional protrusions 80a and 80b further prevent the shaft 50 from moving from its position in an undesired manner, for example, by elastic deformation, when the outer wall 6b is in the deployed state.

[0053] The preferred embodiment illustrated herein further comprises an additional optional implementation or functionality of cam 52. In the case illustrated here, the cam contour is L-shaped in the position where the side opening section 56b of the cam opening 56 is limited upwards by the material of the fixed outer wall area 18 (in the positions of the projections 82a and 82b), such that, as can be deduced from Figure 10B and 11B, the cam 52 is hooks into the side opening section 56b of the cam opening. By this, in the raised state a force is transmitted from the outer wall 6b towards the bottom 2 by the cam 52, which can also increase the total construction stability when this optional feature is implemented.

[0054] As described above, also by functional cooperation of a cam 52 with a contact surface 76 and a shaft 50 arranged in a guide opening 54, according to the invention, an articulation arrangement can be provided that can be disassembled in the folded state and in the deployed state of the outer wall 6b is capable of transferring the required forces to the bottom 2.

[0055] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is also discussed below with reference to Figures 6 through 11B. This preferred embodiment allows an outer wall to be connected by means of an articulation arrangement to the bottom 2 of a collapsible box 1, such that the outer wall 6b is itself maintained in the raised position after being raised. As it is not of great importance with respect to this preferred embodiment that the guide opening 54 and the cam opening 56 in the vertical direction are implemented so that the cams 52 and the shaft 50 can be removed from the top, this characteristic is optional in the preferred embodiments of the present invention described now. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention that allow a wall to support itself, it is required that the cam contour of said cam 52 be implemented, as illustrated in Figure 10A, such that the cam contour when the outer wall 6b rises in contact with the guide surface 76, so that when it exceeds a threshold angle 68, the axis 50 moves inwardly before the bottom or the base 66 of the outer wall 6b comes into contact with the area of the inner edge 90 or the inner edge 90 of the area of the fixed outer wall 18.

[0056] Then, the axis 50 may before absorbing a force acting in the vertical direction, so that it is possible to dimension the distance of the inner edge area 90 towards the axis 50, so that when the outer wall is moved 6b over the edge 90, that is, when it exceeds the contour angle 68 by the effect

of the axis 50, the lower part 66 of the outer wall 6b is pressed against the area of the inner edge 90 with a contact pressure force that is greater than a second contact pressure force with whose use the bottom part 66 of the wall outer 6b is pressed, in the straight vertical position, against the upper side of the area of the fixed outer wall 18 by the effect of the axis 50. In an alternative preferred embodiment not illustrated, the inner side of the cam contour can be implemented so that when it exceeds the edge 90, the contact pressure force is achieved by the effect of cam 52, when it, for example, is already in contact with the material 82b of the cam opening 56 which limits the cam opening 56 towards the top.

[0057] In general terms, the unfolded wall is maintained in the unfolded state when the cam contour is implemented such that said cam contour, when lifting the outer wall 6b comes into contact with the guide surface 76, so that when it exceeds a limit angle 68, the axis 50 is moved inwards in the natural opening section 54b, so that after exceeding the limit angle 68 by the effect of the axis 50 or the cam 52, a lower part 66 of the wall outside 6b is pressed with a first contact pressure force against an area of the inner edge 90 of the fixed outer wall area 18. This first contact pressure force is greater than a second contact pressure force with whose use the part lower 66 of the outer wall 6b, in the vertical position, is pressed towards the upper side of the area of the fixed outer wall 18 by the effect of the axis 50 or the cam 52.

[0058] The area of the outer wall whose resistance must be overcome when deployed, should not be formed by the full length of the inner edge 90 of the area of the fixed outer wall 18. It is also quite possible, for example, in order to influencing the required force, contacting the outer wall 6b during the opening only geometrically delimited areas of the inner edge 90. As for this, for example, on the inner edge 90 of the outer wall, the protuberances that extend inwardly they can be formed such that the outer wall 6b only has to overcome the resistance caused by these protuberances. This can be used, for example, to set the required force when the outer wall 6b is raised and thereby adapts it to the user's requirements.

[0059] In some preferred embodiments, the center of the axis 50 in the lateral direction 12 after moving the axis 50 inwards is further in the direction of the outer side of the folding box 1 than the inner edge 90 which causes the distance between the inner edge 90 and the axis 50 is greater than the distance between the upper side of the fixed outer wall area 18 and the axis 50. This automatically causes the force ratios described above. As with all preferred embodiments of the invention, the outer wall 6b is kept vertical by elastic deformation of the material and not by friction in the form of a delayed shaft or something similar, as is conventionally the case, by inventive preferred embodiments. mechanisms can be provided that cause, without causing wear, that the deployed outer walls 6b remain in the unfolded state by themselves.

[0060] With respect to Figures 12 and 13A or 13B, a further preferred embodiment of the present invention is described, which comprises a closing mechanism 100 which on the one hand can be operated in an extremely efficient manner or is extremely soft in its operation and robust; and on the other hand it also includes an emergency unlocking functionality that guarantees that when the closing mechanism is operated in a wrong way, it is not damaged, but opens automatically. Figure 12 shows a side view of the folding box illustrated in Figure 1. The transverse side outer wall 4b illustrated in the top view here comprises a spring pre-tensioned closing mechanism 100 having a pressure-adjusted element 100 that can engage the outer walls 6a and 6b or the protuberances 22 extending from the longitudinal lateral outer walls 6a and 6b in the direction of the transverse lateral outer wall 4b. By this, the pressure-adjusted element can be connected by being mechanically removable with the protuberances, such that the longitudinal side sides 6a and 6b, in addition to the transverse side wall 4b, are mechanically rigidly connected, but removable each other in order to acquire a stable deployed box 1.

[0061] In what follows, a pressure-adjusted element is discussed with reference to the corner 20 illustrated in Figure 12 in which the transverse lateral side 4b makes a connection with the longitudinal lateral side 6b. Figures 13A and 13B show here a sectional view through the sectional line 102 of Figure 12, where only the area 104 in which the pressure-adjusted element engages with the protrusion 22. Figures 13A and 13B show here by way of example one of the various possible implementations of the pressure-adjusted element 100 or the protuberance 22. With the longitudinal side sides already deployed 6a and 6b, the protuberance 22 extends in the direction of a transverse lateral outer wall 4b. When deployed, this causes the protuberance 22 to delimit the folding capacity of the transverse outer side wall 4b outwards and, so to speak, act as a stop for it. When deployed, the transverse lateral outer wall 4b will contact the protuberance 22 in the deployed position. Simultaneously, the pressure-adjusted element 100 adjusts the extrusion of the outer wall 6b under pressure in order to acquire a mechanically removable rigid connection between the longitudinal side and the transverse lateral outer walls.

[0062] In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the protuberance 22 comprises a closure hook 106 which

it extends inwards, which is basically parallel to the longitudinal lateral outer wall 6a; wherein the hook includes a first contact surface 108 directed inward and a second contact surface 110 directed outward. When the transverse lateral exterior wall 104 is deployed in the deployed direction 113, the longitudinal lateral exterior wall 6b and with it the protuberance 22 and the closure hook 106 fixed to the protuberance 22 are in a fixed position. When deployed, together with the transverse lateral outer wall 4b, the pressure-adjusted element 100 connected to the transverse lateral exterior wall moves relative to the closure hook 106 in the deployed direction 113 illustrated in Figure 13A. Here, the pressure-adjusted element 100 further comprising a first contact surface 112 directed inwardly and a second contact surface 114 directed outwardly, comes into contact with the contact surface 108 of the closure hook 106 directed inwardly. Due to the inclination of the contact surface 108 of the inwardly directed locking hook 106, the pressure adjusting element 100 is moved upward in the vertical direction 8 and can fit in a closed position in the closing hook 106 illustrated in Figures 13A and 13B.

[0063] The pressure-adjusted element 100 and the spring pre-tensioned closing mechanism are integrally implemented in the preferred embodiment described herein and, thus, provided with the same reference numbers. Furthermore, the spring pretension in the preferred embodiment of the invention discussed herein is achieved by means of spring elements 120a and 120b formed integrally with the closing mechanism, wherein the spring elements exert the tension of the spring on the closing mechanism 100 due to its elasticity and conformation. If the pressure-adjusted element 100 is in the closed position in the closure tab 106, the longitudinal side sides 6a and 6b, in addition to the transverse side side 4b are mechanically engaged and connected so that the box has high stability. The closure can be released here in a simple way by operating the closing mechanism 100 in the upward vertical direction, which can be executed in a simple way even at the same time when the box is lifted due to the shape of the closing mechanism which has a grip area 126 disposed below the support opening 128.

[0064] As the closure and the opening are executed in the vertical direction 8 and in this direction the force does not have to be absorbed by the connection between the longitudinal lateral outer walls 6a, 6b and the transverse lateral lateral wall 4b, to close and opening does not have to use great force and the mechanism can be operated easily and reliably. According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, also the second contact surface 110 of the outwardly directed closure hook 106 inclines with respect to the vertical direction 8 and / or the first contact surface 112 of the pressure-adjusted element 100 directed towards Inside he leans. Here, in the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the average inclination of the first contact surface 108 of the inwardly directed closure hook is greater than the average inclination of the second contact surface 110 of the closure hook 106. As well as the First contact surface 110 of the closing hook 106 directed outwardly inclines with respect to the second contact surface 112 of the pressure-adjusted element 100 directed inwards, a force component acts upwardly on the pressure-adjusted element 100 even if a force is exerted on the transverse lateral outer wall 4b from the outside.

[0065] By this, the spring pre-tensioned closing mechanism automatically opens without being destroyed when a predetermined force is exerted. This force can be set randomly by adapting the relative inclination between the second contact surface 110 of the closing hook 106 directed outward and the first contact surface 112 of the pressure-adjusted element 100 directed inwards, considering the pretension of the spring . By this, in the described preferred embodiments of the present invention, the closing mechanism is prevented from being destroyed when an operation error occurs, although it is implemented in such a way that it is closed perpendicular to the direction of movement.

[0066] Although in the preferred embodiment described in Figures 13A and 13B an additional closure hook 106 is fixed in the boss 22, the alternative preferred embodiments of the present invention can also be directly interconnected with the boss 22 or a suitable opening in the 22 bulge itself. What is decisive here is that the protuberance 22 or an element connected thereto and / or the pressure-adjusted element 100 in the deployed state comprises contact surfaces 110 and 112 inclined with respect to the vertical direction 8, such that the closing mechanism 100 is opened against its spring pretension when a predetermined force directed inwardly is directed towards the transverse lateral outer wall 4b.

[0067] Although each spring pre-tensioned closing mechanism 100 and the pressure-adjusted element in the preferred embodiment described in Figure 12 are fully implemented, of course it is possible to implement these components in various parts or, for example, to implement the closing mechanism separately for each side. In addition, in these cases the emergency opening function can be maintained free of destruction.

[0068] Any of the above preferred embodiments were described with respect to the folding boxes used herein for the transport of vegetables or the like. Of course, the folding boxes according to the invention are not restricted to this field of application. Rather, there is also the possibility of executing different transport tasks, such as transporting bottles or the like using similar folding boxes, where the particular contour of the inner or bottom outer walls can be changed so that it adapts better to the specific task.

[0069] Also with reference to the selected materials, various combinations are also possible. Thus, to make the inventive folding boxes, for example, plastic, metal or wood can be used. Due to the particularly firm implementation, heavy loads can also be transported here

5 safe and reliable, such as the case of “catering” when transporting dishes or cutlery or similar. As the use of one of the preferred embodiments described above leads to folding boxes that are hygienic, easy to clean, very firm, compactly foldable and extremely simple and efficient to handle, there are no limitations with respect to the field of application of the boxes inventive folding, since they are suitable for virtually any use due to the plurality of positive characteristics.

Claims (15)

1 Folding box (1), comprising:

-

 a bottom (2) with an area of the fixed outer wall (18) extending upward from the bottom (2) in a vertical direction (8);

-

 an outer wall (6b) comprising an axis (50) disposed in a base area of the outer wall (6b);

-

 a guide opening (54) in the area of the fixed outer wall (18) where the shaft (50) is arranged, the guide opening (54) comprising:

-

 an opening section (54a) that extends basically in the vertical direction (8), through which the axis

(50) can be pulled up; Y

-

 a lateral opening section (54b) extending inward in a lateral direction (12) from the outside of the area of the fixed outer wall (18), in which the axis (50) can basically be displaced in a lateral direction (12 and

-

 a contact surface (76) disposed in the area of the fixed outer wall (18); Y

characterized by

-

 a cam (52) arranged in the base area of the outer wall (6b) and comprising a cam contour, in which the cam contour and the contact surface (76) are made in such a way that when lifting of the outer wall (6b) act together to cause an inwardly directed force on the outer wall (6b), so that the shaft (50) is moved inward in the side opening section (54b), and in the that the contact surface (76) is arranged inside another cam opening (56) arranged in the area of the fixed outer wall (18).

2. Folding box (1) according to claim 1, wherein the side opening section (54b) of the guide opening (54) is limited in at least one area in a horizontal direction (11) fundamentally perpendicular to the vertical (8) and lateral (12) direction vertically (8) upwards by the material of the fixed outer wall area ( 18).

3.

Folding box (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lateral opening section (54b) is located at the bottom (2) of the guide opening (54) which lies at the bottom in a vertical direction (8) .

Four.

Folding box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft (50) is fixed to a base (66) of the outer wall (6b) by means of a spacer (64) and extends in the horizontal direction (11 ) along a predetermined length in the recess.

5.

Folding box 1 according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shaft (50) comprises at least one protuberance through its horizontal extension, where the protuberance extends, in the deployed state of the outer wall (6b) , in a basically lateral direction to the outer lateral edge of the guide opening (54).

6.

Folding box (1) according to claim 4, wherein the axis (50) with respect to the separator extends symmetrically towards both sides of the separator in the horizontal direction, wherein the axis (50) comprises a protuberance at both ends, which it extends laterally in a lateral direction to the edge of the outer side of the guide opening (54) in the deployed state of the outer wall (6b).

7.

Folding box (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the guide opening (54) comprises a break through the material of the fixed outer wall (6b) that passes in the lateral direction inwards, through from which the separator can be moved.

8.

Folding box (1) according to claim 7, wherein the guide opening (54) extends in the horizontal direction symmetrically with respect to the break on both sides of the break and the side opening section (54b) is vertically limited ( 8) upwards by the material of the fixed outer wall area (18) at least in an area on each side of the break.

9.

Folding box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact surface (76) is formed by means of a boundary surface that is arranged outside in the lateral direction.

10.

Folding box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cam opening (56) has:

-

 an opening section that basically extends in a vertical direction (8) through which the cam (52) can be pulled upwards; Y

5 - a section of lateral opening extending in the lateral direction from the laterally outer boundary surface of the cam opening (56) inwards; in which the lateral opening section is limited at least in an area in the horizontal direction vertically (8) upwards by means of the material of the fixed outer wall area (18). 10

eleven.

Folding box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cam (52) is fixed to the base area of the outer wall (6b), such that the cam (52) is located inside the cam opening (56).

12.

Folding box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the joint contour action

15 of cam and the contact surface (76) causes a maximum movement of the shaft (50) inwards when the outer wall (6b) is raised at a limit angle (68) that is smaller than the angle corresponding to the deployed state. 13. Folding box (1) according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the cam (52) in the unfolded state of the outer wall (6b) is engaged in the side opening section of the cam opening (56) with an inner recess 20 in the area of the side opening section where the section of the side opening of the cam opening (56) is limited upwards in a vertical direction (8) by the material of the fixed outer wall area (18). 14. Folding box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer wall (6b) in the position in which the cam (52) and / or the shaft (50) is arranged in the base area comprises a bridge arranged in the 25 outer part of the outer wall (6b), which extends from a base of the cam (52) and / or the shaft (50) in the vertical direction (8) along a height of the outer wall (6b ). 15. Folding box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising several cams (52) and / or shafts (50) arranged in the base area of the outer wall (6b), where in each of the positions in which they are 30 arranged the cams (52) and / or the shafts (50) in the base area, the outer wall (6b) comprises bridges arranged on its outer side extending from the base of the cams (52) and / or the shafts (50) in a vertical direction (8) along the height of the outer wall (6b).